Trace-carrier.



No. 664,877. Patented Ian. I, I90|.'

J. S.-MATTHEWS.

TRACE CARRIER.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNiTE STATES JOSEPH STONE MATTHEl/VS,

TRACE-CARRIER.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF PARK HALL, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,877, dated January 1, 1901.

Application filed March 1'7, 1900- Serial No. 9,110. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STONE MAT- THEWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park Hall, in the county of St. Marys and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Harness Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to harness attachments, and more particularly to an attachment adapted to be secured to the back-band of the harness for the purpose of adjusting the trace at different heights to permit of the harness being used for different purposes and upon different-sized animals.

Vt ith these objects in view my invention consists in the improved construction and novel combination of parts of a back-band attachment, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-nu merals represent corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur.

Figure l is aview of an animal on which is placed a set of harness provided with my attachment. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of my improved attachment. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, and Fig. is a side elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,1 indicates the base-plate of my improved attachment, which may be of any suitable size and is provided at each end and intermediate its length with perforations 2, by means of which it can be secured to the end of the back-band in position for use. Projecting from one side of the base is a series of curved hooks 3, preferably two in number, the end of each of which terminates at a short distance from perforated ears or lugs 4, and the inner surface of each of said hooks near the bottom is provided with an upwardly-projecting pin 5, upon which the trace is supported when in use. Directly below each of the hooks 3 are two outwardly-projecting ears 6, through which is passed a split key 7, which is preferably permanently secured to the baseplate by means of a fastener 8. This fastener may be formed from wire or other suitable material and is secured to a perforated projection 9 at one edge of the plate.

Pivotally secured between the lugs 4 at each hook is a curved latch 10, the free end of which fits between the perforated ears 6 and has its tip curved outwardly to form a projection by means of which it may be moved out from between said ears. The perforations in the ears 6 are at such a distance from the base that when the latch is between said ears the split key 7 will pass upon the outside of the latch and hold it in position. By having the latch extended entirely around the hook its free end is placed so close to the base-plate that it will not be liable to engage with obstructions, and it will also assist materially in supporting the hook against the downward pull of the trace.

In using my invention one of the plates is secured upon each side of the back-band in position to engage with the trace 12 intermediate its engagement with the hame l3and its connection to the end of the plow-beam 14 or other point of attachment. One of the latches is released from its hook and the trace is inserted into the hook, with one of the links 15 passing over the stud or pin 5. The latch is then replaced and fastened by the insertion of the key? and the harness is ready for use.

By means of my improved attachment it will be seen that the draft upon the plowbeam can be changed at will by simply transferring the trace from one hook to the other. It will also permit of the harness being applied to horses of different sizes by simply shifting the trace from one hook to the other to make it extend from the hames to the point of attachment at the proper angle irrespective of the size of the animal upon which the harness has been placed. In this manner the angle of the trace with the end of the plow can be varied without the necessity of moving the back-band rearwardly, therebyavoiding the necessity of changing the position of the back-band and preventing its being located over the loins of the animal, which is the Weakest place and which must be done with harness of the present construction.

As the attachment can be secured to the ordinary harness by simply passing suitable fasteners through the perforations at the ends of the base-plate it will be seen that my improvement can be applied to any set of harness with but small expense and trouble. Although I have shown what I have found to be a very desirable form of construction for my improved harness attachment, yet I reserve to myself the right to make such changes and alterations therein as will come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In an attachment for harness, the combination, with a baseplate, one side of which is provided with a series of curved hooks and with two sets of perforated lugs foreach hook, one set being above and the other below the I hook, and the inner surface of the hook near its lower end being provided with an up wardly-extending pin, a curved latch pivotally secured to the perforated lugs above the hook, the free end of which fits between the lugs below the hook and is curved outwardly, a split key through said last-mentioned lugs, and means for permanently securing said key to the base-plate, substantially as described. 20

JOSEPH STONE MATTHEWS. Witnesses:

Jos. F. NEAL, ROBT. A. ABELL. 

